No mention of Liberty. But he said we will have a 12th team in 2015. Whatever that means.

If nothing else, it confirms the conference won't stand pat. Either JMU accepts an invitation, or there will be an invitation to a fallback school. None of the fallback choices is ideal so the least objectionable will get the offer.

Missouri State makes the most sense and has the largest potential. If they weren't buried in the SW corner of Missouri (travel-wise), then I'd love to see them in the MAC. In my eyes, MO State is pretty comparable to JMU. MO State has better basketball, JMU has better football - both have room to grow and plenty of potential. JMU holds a slight edge, but Mo State would be fully committed in for the long haul where JMU will always be looking for the mythical eastern conference.

You need to check your vision. It is not even close:

1. JMU has a $34 million athletic budget. Missouri State is at $14 million.
2. Missouri State has not been to the FCS playoffs since 1990. JMU has been there 9 times in that period, winning the national championship in 2004.
3. JMU had an average football attendance of 21,011 per game last season. Missouri State averaged 8,700.
4. JMU has an FBS ready football facility that seats 25,000. Missouri State has an older facility that seats 16,600 and is not FBS ready.
5. JMU is ranked in Forbes Best Colleges at #168. Missouri State is ranked at #526. That is important to the Presidents.

I could add that the population growth and the FBS talent favors the state of Virginia and JMU. If you are in an olympic sports league, then maybe Missouri State is the better option. If your in an FBS league, Missouri State is not close to being ready. They are a mediocre FCS program that lacks the money to move up. That is not the kind of program the SBC needs.

I would pick JMU over us as well, but you don't add us for right now, you add us for our potential.

These last 10-15 years have been the W O R S T athletically for MSU. It's no wonder our numbers are low. But with the insane money we are pumping into facilities, I don't doubt that we will get better.